Sally Rooney: Celebs Rumors

Frances and Connell were classmates! Conversations With Friends‘ Alison Oliver walked the halls alongside none other than Normal People’s Paul Mescal when the actors both attended The Lir Academy in Dublin, Ireland.

If, like us, you spent 2020 obsessing over Normal People, then you'll be hooked on Conversations With Friends, coming to BBC Three later this month.The new series – based on the novel of the same name – was also written by Normal People's author Sally Rooney and directed by Lenny Abrahamson, and follows the story of students Frances and Bobbi, ex-girlfriends who become entangled in the relationship of an older couple. With the novel winning Sally a Young Writer of the Year award, Conversations With Friends is sure to keep viewers gripped over the coming weeks.

Caroline Framke Chief TV CriticOn the most basic level, it makes sense that Hulu’s “Conversations With Friends” would try to echo what made its “Normal People” adaptation so successful. Once again enlisting director Lenny Abrahamson and writer Alice Birch, and once again starring a female actor (Alison Oliver) who resembles author Sally Rooney and a male one specifically poised to become a breakout thirst object (Joe Alwyn), “Conversations With Friends” follows the “Normal People” pattern so closely that it often feels more like a faded impression rather than its own series.

Conversations With Friends, based on a Sally Rooney book, which is out May 15, Alison Oliver’s character Frances moves quietly through life, surveying every situation and person before making a move. In person—or over Zoom, at least—Oliver jumps right into our conversation with a contagious excitement. You can’t blame her. This is a breakthrough role for the 24-year-old Cork, Ireland, native, who graduated from the Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art in Dublin in 2020 and nabbed an audition for Conversations With Friends just a few months later.

Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Netflix, Peacock, Discovery+ and even more streaming services, there’s no shortage of options when choosing what to binge-watch this weekend. However, sometimes the amount of great film and television available to stream can be overwhelming and lead to scrolling aimlessly — hoping to land on that perfect piece of content.  Scroll no more! To help you out, ET has rounded up the best movies and TV shows to stream this weekend, including new arrivals, nostalgia-filled favorites and titles you may have missed the (well-deserved) hype on that are worth circling back for.From the streaming debut of to Hulu's new miniseries adaptation of Sally Rooney's debut novel, , we’ve got your content covered this week. For even more recommendations, make sure to check out our guide for everything new on Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV+ and more this month.Starring fan favorites including Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Tom Hiddleston, Joe Alwyn, Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, Elisabeth Moss, Nicole Kidman, Issa Rae, Pablo Schreiber, Rose Matafeo, Amy Schumer, Michael Cera, Jake Johnson, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried and more, here are the best TV shows and movies to stream this week: +Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star in this fun and flirty adventure flick.

Nothing uncomfortable here. Alison Oliver says “it was great” working with an intimacy coordinator to film sex scenes with Joe Alwyn for Hulu’s Conversations With Friends, which debuts on Sunday, May 15.

 reunited to bring Rooney's debut novel,  to the small screen.Set in Dublin,  follows 21-year-old college student Frances and her former girlfriend and current best friend, Bobbi, as they navigate a complex new relationship with a married couple.Watch on May 15Like Sally Rooney’s other works,  is an intimate character study of complicated individuals, and the ways in which they communicate with one another. Alison Oliver, Joe Alwyn, Sasha Lane and Jemima Kirke star in this new Hulu original series. Keep reading to find out how to watch  premieres on Sunday, May 15.

Sally Rooney’s stories of deconstructed yearnings and anxious young adulthoods have been the talk of the literary scene since 2017, when the author’s debut, “Conversations With Friends,” was published to acclaim. Her second novel, “Normal People,” was promptly turned into an angsty but well-acted Hulu miniseries led by captivating then-up-and-comers Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Manori Ravindran International EditorIn another major M&A coup, Fremantle has taken a majority stake in Irish production company Element Pictures, the producers of “Normal People,” “Conversations With Friends” and “The Favourite.”Element Pictures has grown to become one of Europe’s top drama producers, and is managed by co-founders Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, with offices in Dublin, London and Belfast.The deal was spearheaded by Fremantle group COO and continental Europe CEO Andrea Scrosati and Lorenzo De Maio, of De Maio Entertainment. The deal represents continued investment in European drama from Fremantle, which is owned by Germany’s RTL Group.

In another mega M&A deal, Fremantle has taken a majority stake in Irish The Favourite, Room and Conversations with Friends producer Element Pictures.

Conversations With Friends and Normal People would have attracted a “tiny audience” if they had been made as features instead of TV shows, according to director Lenny Abrahamson, who said program-makers should trust audiences to enjoy “arthouse TV.”

Ready for her close-up! Alison Oliver couldn’t believe her luck when she was cast in Hulu’s Conversations With Friends — having just graduated from college shortly before getting her big break.

A supportive couple! Taylor Swift reacted well to Joe Alwyn’s sex scenes in his new Hulu series, Conversation With Friends. The actor revealed in an interview with Extra that the evermore singer is a big fan of the book from which the series is based on, and expected the sex scenes to come. 

Joe Alwyn never intended to be a songwriter.

An unexpected surprise. Joe Alwyn explained that he doesn’t often think about girlfriend Taylor Swift‘s fame, so he certainly didn’t expect their fun musical collaboration to win a Grammy Award.

Sex Education star, 36, rose to fame in Lena Dunham’s show in her twenties, playing Jessa Johansson in the HBO comedy series. Now, Jemima – who was described as ‘one of the best actresses and stars on any screen in a very long time’ by The New Yorker after her Girls debut – is bringing a Sally Rooney novel to the small screen. In Conversations with Friends, she will play Melissa, a writer stuck in a loveless marriage with Nick, who is played by Joe Alwyn.

Normal People—Sally Rooney's Hulu show—two years later that I realized that some products, put plainly, are simply better than others. My fellow Glamour Beauty Awards judges vouch for it, too: The won the this year—and for good reason.

Phoebe Bridgers has suggested she may release more new music this year, saying that she always “tries to do things that are exciting”.Last week saw the Los Angeles singer-songwriter return with ‘Sidelines’, a standalone song that was recorded for the upcoming TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Conversations With Friends.Bridgers wrote the track with bandmate and collaborator Marshall Vore and Ruby Rain Henley. According to a press release, ‘Sidelines’ will be her only original new song of the year.During an interview with KROQ at last weekend’s Coachella, the musician was asked whether this was the case.“Who knows, actually,” Bridgers replied.

Joe Alwyn addresses those spiralling engagement rumours to longtime girlfriend Taylor Swift in his cover story for WSJ Magazine‘s May issue, out on newsstands April 30.

Read more: Cast of Belfast filmed 'Conversations with Friends' named The show was partly filmed in Belfast, with the main cast members being spotted throughout the city during the several months in 2021 when filming took place. Film crews for the drama were spotted at places like Ormeau Road's Canteen Cafe, and Botanic Avenue's No Alibis bookshop. Here is what we know so far about the Sally Rooney drama:The story follows Frances, a 21-year-old student, as she navigates a series of relationships that force her to confront her own vulnerabilities for the first time.

Phoebe Bridgers performed at Coachella last night (April 15), and was joined on stage by Arlo Parks for a couple of tracks at the end of her set – see footage below.Bridgers took to the Outdoor Theatre stage ahead of Louis The Child and King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard for a 12-track set that included her hits ‘Kyoto’ and ‘Punisher ‘.Her set also included a performance of the recently released ‘Sidelines’, taken from the upcoming TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends.Towards the end of her performance, Bridgers brought out Arlo Parks – who will perform her own set at Coachella later today (April 16) – to collaborate with her on ‘Graceland Too’ and ‘I Know The End’ – both taken from Bridgers’ second album, ‘Punisher’.Check out their duets alongside other highlights of the performance and a full setlist, below.part 2! pic.twitter.com/G96gZ91ST3— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022Phoebe brought out Arlo Parks to sing graceland too!! #Phoebechella pic.twitter.com/6IfFvIGHof— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022Phoebe performing moon song tonight! #Phoebechella pic.twitter.com/5hA6sHhyW3— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022phoebe performing kyoto! #phoebechella pic.twitter.com/iRgt5QNGY3— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022Another video of phoebe performing Kyoto #phoebechella pic.twitter.com/LnUXOaX4XO— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks on stage at Coachella together #Phoebechella pic.twitter.com/WYICHAg5XV— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022Phoebe live at coachella via Youtube Live #Phoebechella pic.twitter.com/bsO13a20v3— phoebe on tour (@bridgersontour) April 16, 2022A post shared by Barry Belkin

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPhoebe Bridgers has dropped “Sidelines,” her first original song since her Grammy-nominated 2020 album “Punisher.” The moody and low-key track is from Hulu’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s low-key blockbuster novel “Conversations With Friends.” According to the announcement, it will be Bridgers’ only new original song of 2022, although she’s released multiple covers and reworked versions of “Punisher” songs over the past few months.Bridgers will be making her first-ever appearance at the Coachella festival this and next weekend, and then will launch a long tour of North America and Europe through the end of August; dates appear below.

Phoebe Bridgers just dropped a bright and bold new love song called ‘Sidelines’. Listen to the track below.Released via Dead Oceans, the song will appear in Hulu’s Conversations With Friends, the TV adaption of the popular Sally Rooney novel, when it premiers on May 15.Bridgers, a longtime fan of Rooney, was tapped to write the track by Hulu.

Phoebe Bridgers has dropped her new song “Sidelines,” just 24 hours ahead of her performance at Coachella!

Each week, we here at Official Charts compile the best and most exciting releases of New Music Friday, to give you a chance to hear the future hits on the Official Singles and Albums Chart. Let's dive in!

Conversations With Friends,” the upcoming series adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, will premiere on May 15 on Hulu, BBC announced today, in addition to dropping a new trailer for the show.The series follows 21-year-old Frances (Alison Oliver), who, after three years, is still best friends with her ex-girlfriend, Bobbi (Sasha Lane). The two are inseparable, but at one of their poetry performances in Dublin, they meet Melissa (Jemima Kirke), an older writer who is taken by them.

We finally have another glimpse at the next Sally Rooney adaptation. Hulu released a full-length trailer Tuesday for the upcoming miniseries “Conversations with Friends.”The series follows Frances (played by Alison Oliver), a 21-year-old college student, as she navigates a series of relationships that force her to confront her own vulnerabilities for the first time. At the beginning of the trailer, Oliver’s Frances admits she thought she “maybe wasn’t capable of love.” “I thought there was something wrong with me,” she says. That is, until she lays eyes on Nick Conway (played by Joe Alwyn).

Phoebe Bridgers will share a new song called "Sidelines" on April 15. The release date for the song was revealed on Tuesday in an Instagram post containing a trailer for Conversations With Friends, the upcoming BBC/Hulu adaptation of the latest novel by Sally Rooney (Normal People).

The first full-length trailer for Hulu‘s Conversations with Friends has debuted online!

The Irish romantic psychological drama “Normal People” from BBC Three, Hulu, author Sally Rooney, and Academy Award-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson (“Frank,” “Room“) was a huge hit in the spring of 2020, distracting many through the pandemic and creating a word of mouth buzz that continued all summer long. The series also made big, breakout stars out of its leads Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, who have gone on to become very in-demand actors.

Marta Balaga As multiple opportunities open up in the changing market, it’s crucial to protect what’s special about the project first, Element Pictures producer Ed Guiney argued at a Canneseries panel.“You figure out what the scripts are, who is going to make it and how much it’s going to cost, and then you go out and choose the best partner. The dynamic is that we are making this thing, the train is pulling out of the station, so do you want to join us? Rather than ‘this is something we are thinking of doing, do we have your permission?’,” he said, citing collaboration on “Normal People” with the BBC.“When we were in contention for the rights, the BBC did a very bold thing – they greenlit the show before we had them.

The linear relaunch of BBC Three, the broadcaster’s TV channel dedicated to younger viewers, has been branded a flop and, following its £80million relaunch, a complete waste of money.

Heartbreak, romance and complicated relationships — Normal People is about to get a run for its money when Conversations With Friends finally hits the small screen.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have figured out the secret to making their relationship work. A source tells ET that the 32-year-old singer and 30-year-old actor «are very happy in their relationship,» and prefer to «keep their private life private.»«They've been enjoying their time as a couple,» the source says. «They have spoken about their future together and feel very secure about their relationship.»As for how they're able to balance both work and romance, the source notes, «They're supportive of each other's careers and of each other in general. Both of them have been busy with work and they completely understand how to balance hectic schedules and still make time for each other.

Joe Alwyn is offering some rare insight into his relationship with Taylor Swift. The 30-year-old actor's comment came during the virtual Television Critics Association panel for Alwyn's new Hulu show,, on Tuesday.Alwyn is set to star as Nick Conway, a character who is in an open relationship, in the series, which is based on Sally Rooney's debut novel of the same name.

Joe Alwyn‘s latest character is in an open relationship in his new Hulu series Conversations with Friends.